The "Windows Application Has Stopped Working" issue can hinder your productivity and lead to downtime. Finding an effective solution to this error, especially when a program is starting or running, is crucial to restoring normal functionality. This article will outline six effective methods to address the .exe not working problem, covering issues such as file corruption, compatibility problems, and malware concerns.
"We have an .EXE file that gives a 'has stopped working' error when closed. Can you provide a fix?" - A report from the Microsoft Community
Each approach offers a comprehensive troubleshooting strategy tailored to the root cause of individual issues. From file repair utilities to compatibility settings and malware scans, these methods can resolve problems and restore the functionality of your Windows system. They can also fix "application has stopped working" errors and enhance your computer's performance for sustained productivity.
When users encounter the "EXE has stopped working" issue due to file corruption, they often seek reliable methods to repair the damaged files and restore normal Windows functionality. In such cases, the Fixo File Repair Tool is a viable option, offering comprehensive file repair capabilities to address various file corruption issues.
This compressed file file repair software can easily repair corrupted EXE, RAR, and Zip files. The repair utility of this tool can also fix many compression file errors, such as:
Follow the steps in this article to fix corrupted EXE files and resolve the "EXE has stopped working" issue:
Step 1: Download and run Fixo on your computer or laptop. Select "File Repair" to fix corrupted Office documents, including Word, Excel, PDF, and so on. Click "Add File" to select the damaged document.
Step 2. Click on “Repair All” to fix multiple files. To repair a single file, hover your pointer over it and click “Repair.” You can also preview the file by clicking on the eye icon.
Step 3. Click “Save” to save the selected documents. Choose “Save All” to save all repaired files. Select “View Repairs” to locate the folder with repaired files.
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Adjusting the compatibility settings for Windows can fix issues with older programs. Some apps, especially older ones, might have compatibility problems that cause an “EXE won't run” error. Resetting the app's compatibility mode to an earlier version of Windows might solve these issues and prevent crashes. Here's how:
Step 1: Go to the installation location of the program that is having issues.
Step 2: Right-click the .exe file and select Properties.
Step 3: Go to the "Compatibility" tab, and check the box next to "Run this program in compatibility mode for."
Step 4. Select your choice of “Windows edition” from the drop-down menu.
Step 5: Click “OK” to apply the changes.
When an EXE file fails to run correctly, running the application with administrative privileges often resolves the issue. Here's how to do it:
Step 1: Type the name of the program in the search box first.
Step 2. Right-click the program, and then select "Run as administrator." You can also do this from the pane on the right.
If this resolves the issue, you can ensure that the program always opens with administrator permissions by performing the following extra steps:
Step 1: Press the "Windows key," then type the name of the EXE file you want to run (for example, Minecraft).
Step 2. Right-click the program, then click "Open file location." This will take you to the installation directory. If it doesn't, you can find it manually.
< b > Step 3 < /b > : Right-click the executable file in the installation folder, and select “Properties.”
Step 4. In the Properties window, go to the Compatibility tab.
5. Check the box for “Run as administrator.”
Step 6: Click Apply to apply the change immediately, and then click OK.
One suggested solution to fix an EXE file that's not running is to clean up temporary files. These files are necessary for certain processes but can become outdated over time, leading to system issues. Here's how to use built-in system tools to clear temporary files: 1. **Windows 10/8/7:** - Press the `Win + R` keys to open the Run dialog. - Type `cleanmgr` and press Enter to launch the Disk Cleanup utility. - Select the drive you want to clean (usually C:) and click "OK." - Check the box for "Temporary files" in the Disk Cleanup dialog. - Click "OK" again to start the cleaning process. 2. **Windows Vista/XP:** - Click on "Start," then "All Programs," then "Accessories," and finally "System Tools." - Select "Disk Cleanup." - Choose the drive you want to clean (typically C:) and click "OK." - Mark the "Temporary Internet Files" and "Temporary Files" options. - Click "OK" to proceed with the cleanup. 3. **MacOS:** - Open "Finder." - Go to your "Home" folder, usually labeled with your username. - Look for the "Library" folder, which might be hidden. To show it, press `Cmd + Shift + .` (period). - Navigate to "Caches" and delete the contents of the folders inside. - Empty the Trash. 4. **Linux (Ubuntu, Debian, and others):** - Open a terminal by pressing `Ctrl + Alt + T`. - Type `sudo apt-get clean` and press Enter. This will clear the package cache. - Type `rm -rf ~/.tmp/*` and press Enter to remove temporary files in the user's directory. - Type `sudo rm -rf /var/cache/apt/archives/*` and press Enter to remove the system's package cache. After clearing the temporary files, restart your computer and try running the EXE file again. If the issue persists, there might be other underlying problems that require further troubleshooting.
Step 1. Open "This PC" or "File Explorer".
Step 2. Right-click on the system partition (usually the C: drive), and select Properties.
Step 3. In the Properties dialog box, click the General tab, and then choose Disk Cleanup.
Step 4. Disk Cleanup will calculate how much space you can free up. When it's done, click Clean up system files.
5. Check the box next to “Temporary files” or any other files you'd like to delete.
Step 6. Click “OK” to confirm your choice and start the process of deleting temporary files. alt: Delete temporary files.
Cleaning temporary files can help improve system efficiency and resolve issues of EXE programs stopping abruptly. If the problem persists, further troubleshooting may be required.
Updating device drivers, particularly graphics drivers, often resolves issues with EXE files not running. Here's how to update your GPU driver:
Step 1. Right-click the Start button and select Device Manager from the context menu.
Step 2. Expand the "Display adapters" category in Device Manager to see your graphics driver.
Step 3: Right-click on the graphics driver under Display adapters and select Update Driver.
Step 4: If there are any drivers available online, Windows will install them.
Step 5. You can also download and install the latest graphics driver directly from the OEM (original equipment manufacturer) website for your GPU.
Step 6: Install drivers only from trusted sources to avoid security risks.
To address the issue of "EXE not running," you can use Windows Defender to search for and eliminate possible viruses and malware. Here are the steps to perform a deep scan using Windows Defender: 1. Open the Start menu. 2. Type "Windows Defender" in the search box, then select the "Windows Defender Security Center" application. 3. In the Windows Defender Security Center interface, click on the "Virus & threat protection" option on the left side. 4. On the "Virus & threat protection" page, you'll see options like "Quick scan" or "Scan now." Click on it to initiate a basic system scan. 5. If you want a more thorough scan, click on "Custom scan." In the new window, you can choose specific folders, drives, or locations to scan. 6. After selecting the scan range, click "Scan now" to start the comprehensive scan. 7. The scanning process may take some time, depending on your computer's performance and the number of files being scanned. Please wait patiently. 8. Once the scan is complete, Windows Defender will display a report listing any detected threats. Follow the prompts to remove or quarantine these threats. 9. Restart your computer to ensure all changes take effect. It's crucial to keep Windows Defender up to date to protect against the latest threats. Generally, Windows automatically updates Windows Defender, but you can also check for updates manually. Go to "Settings" > "Update & Security" > "Windows Defender," and click "Check for updates" to ensure your antivirus software is current.
Step 1: Click the Windows Defender icon in the notification area to open the Security Center.
Step 2: In the left pane of the Windows Security app, select Virus & threat protection.
Step 3: Under "Quick Scan," select "Scan Options."
Step 4: Select “Full Scan” and click on “Scan Now” to start the scan.
Step 5: Windows Defender will scan all your files and folders for viruses and malware.
After the scan is finished, Windows Defender will provide you with the results so you can take action on any threats.
Here are some questions users search for when encountering the "exe has stopped working" error:
1. How do I fix an app that has stopped working?
To address the issue of a "program not running," you need to identify the cause, which could be incompatible software, corrupted data, or system malfunction. Reinstalling the software, running compatibility checks, updating drivers, or repairing the system might resolve the problem.
How do I fix Windows 10 when it stops working?
You can resolve the “Windows 10 stopped working” issue by running System File Checker (SFC) scan, updating device drivers, performing a clean boot, or resetting Windows Update components.
Why won't an .exe file run?
There are several reasons why an EXE file might not run, including corrupted system files, software incompatibility, and even virus infections.
This guide encompasses effective approaches to address the root cause of errors and prevent their recurrence in the future. These techniques aim to assist users in avoiding future hassles and enhancing their overall computer experience.
Several solutions are available for the "exe has stopped working" issue, including modifying compatibility settings, running the application as an administrator, deleting temporary files, updating device drivers, and scanning for viruses and spyware. To quickly address this error, you can utilize the Fixo File Repair tool.